Flood watch up as heavy rain hits southeastern Massachusetts

The National Weather Service office in Taunton has issued a flash flood watch through 8 p.m. Wednesday for most of Massachusetts.

Heavy rain has spread across the state with the potential for 2 inches an hour. Southeast winds will gust at 25 to 40 p.m., possibly causing power failures.

A flash flood watch for parts of Bristol and Norfolk County has been lifted.

Rain may snarl the afternoon rush hour. There is a potential for severe thunderstorms and damaging wind gusts, with the highest risk in the southeast corner of the state. A waterspout is possible.

Rain will be torrential at times into the afternoon, falling at up to two inches an hour, with some areas receiving up to 5 inches. The storm dumped 13 inches of rain in less than 12 hours on parts of New York's Long Island.